Teachers in Australia and New Zealand need health education training

New research shows that graduate teachers in Australia and New Zealand need more support to teach important health lessons to schoolchildren. This includes topics like physical activity, sun safety, and sleep health. A survey from the University of the Sunshine Coast involved nearly 100 teacher educators. It found that many were unsure if their graduates could confidently plan and teach lessons on these subjects. Specifically, 28% felt uncertain about physical activity, 42% about sun safety, and a worrying 75% about sleep health. The study also revealed that most universities spend very little time on these health topics, often less than three hours or no time at all. Dr. Joseph Scott, the lead author of the research, emphasized that these topics are essential for creating healthy habits in young people. He pointed out that teachers play a crucial role in promoting health. However, there is no standard requirement for all future teachers to have deep knowledge in these areas. Some universities may not include sun safety or sleep content at all, which is concerning. Health data indicates that over 90% of young people do not meet recommended physical activity levels, and many struggle with getting enough sleep. Australia and New Zealand also have the highest skin cancer rates in the world. Sally Blane from Cancer Council WA stressed that sunburn during childhood greatly increases the risk of skin cancer later in life. She called for better teacher education on UV rays and skin cancer prevention. Dr. Scott urged teacher education programs to assess and improve their curriculum to prepare graduates better. He stressed that teachers cannot effectively educate students on these topics if they themselves are not properly trained.